25 December 2010

Blizzard Bicycle Moments

A blizzard rolled in over Copenhagen on the 23rd of December, with hefty winds to boot. It was the nation's busiest travel day and the last shopping day before christmas. The snowploughs and sweepers were out in force - respect! Copenhagen was more empty than normal - many people travelled early to get to where they needed to be for christmas on the 24th - but there were still loads of bicycles in motion.
The bike lanes on the main arteries were cleared but the snow was one step ahead so there were stretches that were completely snow-free. Add to that snow drifts from the winds and it was certainly more interesting than normal to cycle around.

Cyclists were smiling and chatting to each other. A rare mood of solidarity in the blizzard. It was lovely.

Three people asked me how the Bullitt was in the snow and I have to say - as I did to them - that it is absolutely brilliant in the snow. I won't ride anything else in weather like this. The low centre of gravity and the front wheel far out front lets me roll right through snow and snowdrifts alike. It is incredibly stable. There are slip-sliding moments and fishtailing but it is so stable that it hardly affects the riding or trajectory.
While most people on bicycles were dressed in the same clothes that they would walk in, I chatted with this lady with ski goggles. She was loving it in the blizzard.
Many people were taking a shortcut across The Lakes. Impossible to ride out there, but they merely pushed their bikes. What an Arctic scene.

Love the photos - so inspiring. I live in Michigan USA where it feels like we're the only biking family, especially in the winter - and winter isn't as brutal here as in Denmark. Bike culture has not taken hold yet.

Kilometres cycled by Copenhageners so far today

Copenhagenize.com is the blog of Copenhagenize Design Company. Online since 2007 and highlighting the cycling life in Copenhagen and around the world.

40 years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 41% of the population arriving at work or education do so on bicycles, from all over the Metro area. 55% of Copenhageners themselves use bicycles each day. They all use over 1000 km of bicycle lanes in Greater Copenhagen for their journeys. Copenhagenizing is possible anywhere.